Transmission device having overload protection

ABSTRACT

A transmission device includes a holder, a pivot shaft, and an elastic member. The holder defines a receiving hole. The pivot shaft is received in the receiving hole. The elastic member is received in the receiving hole, fixed to the holder, and tightly enfolds the pivot shaft. When torques applied to the holder or the pivot shaft are larger than a predetermined value, the elastic member is deformed such that the pivot shaft rotates relative to the holder.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to transmission devices, and particularly to a transmission device having an overload protection mechanism.

2. Description of Related Art

When a transmission of a motor is overloaded it will blow a fuse. To replace the fuse is time consuming and inconvenient.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a transmission device which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

Many aspects of the present transmission device can be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principle of the present transmission device.

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a transmission device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the transmission device of FIG. 1, viewed from a reverse aspect.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, cross-sectional, schematic view of the transmission device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of a transmission device according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an assembled isometric view of the transmission device of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an assembled, cross-sectional, schematic view of the transmission device taken along VIE-VIE line of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of a transmission device according to a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an assembled isometric view of the transmission device of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a transmission device 10, according to a first exemplary embodiment, includes a gear 20, a pivot shaft 30, an elastic member 40, a holder 50, a positioning member 60, three springs 70, and a silencer 80. The transmission device 10 is configured to interconnect a driving device and a driven device (not shown), and transmit driving forces from the driving device to the driven device.

The gear 20 is operable to couple to the driving device (or the driven device).

The pivot shaft 30 is fixed on a center of the gear 20. The pivot shaft 30 includes a cylindrical inner body 31 and three arc-shaped positioning portions 32 protruding from a side surface of the inner body 31. In this embodiment, the inner body 31 and the positioning portions 32 are integrally formed, and the positioning portions 32 are distributed around the side surface of the inner body 31 at uniform intervals. As a result, the pivot shaft 30 is substantially triangular.

The elastic member 40 is a hollow frame, and includes a substantially triangular periphery. In particular, the elastic member 40 defines a substantially triangular pivot hole 43 in a center thereof to sleeve on the pivot shaft 30. In this embodiment, the elastic member 40 includes three arc-shaped spring plates 41 and three connecting portions 42 interconnecting the spring plates 41 correspondingly. The spring plates 41 are elastically deformable. The connecting portions 42 are disposed at three corners of the triangle correspondingly.

The holder 50 is tubular and configured to couple to the driven device (or the driving device). The holder 50 includes a cylindrical wall 51 and defines a receiving through hole 52 along a central axis of the cylindrical wall 51. The holder 50 further defines three fixing slots 53 and three positioning through holes 54 in the body 51. The fixing slots 53 and the positioning through holes 54 communicate with the receiving through hole 52. The fixing slots 53 are defined from one end of the cylindrical wall 51. A central axis of the positioning through hole 54 is substantially perpendicular to that of the receiving through hole 52. Each positioning through hole 54 is substantially located midway between two fixing slots 53, and faces the other fixing slot 53. The receiving through hole 52 is configured to receive the elastic member 40, and the fixing slots 53 are configured to receive the connecting portions 42 correspondingly. The positioning through holes 54 are configured to receive the springs 70 correspondingly.

The positioning member 60 includes a tube 61 and a positioning ring 62 disposed on one end of the tube 61. In this embodiment, the positioning member 60 is made of an acoustic insulating material.

Each spring 70 is received in a corresponding positioning through hole 54, and the length of the spring 70 in a normal state is longer than the depth of the corresponding positioning through hole 54.

The silencer 80 is a cylindrical body defining a blind hole 81 in the center thereof. In this embodiment, the silencer 80 is made of an acoustic insulating material.

Also referring to FIG. 3, in assembly, one end of the holder 50, which is away from the fixing slots 53 is received in the blind hole 81. The elastic member 40 is received in the receiving through hole 51, and the connecting portions 42 are inserted into the fixing slots 53 correspondingly. Each spring plate 41 faces a corresponding positioning through hole 54, and is spaced a distance away from the inner surface of holder 50. Then, the springs 70 are inserted into the positioning through holes 54 and contact the spring plates 41 correspondingly. In this embodiment, the positioning member 60 and the silencer 80 are screwed onto the holder 50.

The positioning ring 61 covers on the elastic member 40 to prevent the elastic member 40 from detaching from the holder 50. At the same time, the springs 70 are compressed by the positioning member 60 to apply pressure to the spring plates 41. Then, the pivot shaft 30 is inserted into the pivot hole 43, and is tightly enfolded by the elastic member 40. The connecting portions 42 tightly contact the positioning portions 32 correspondingly. The gear 20 extends out from the positioning member 60.

If an acceptable torque is applied by the driving device to the gear 20, the gear 20 and the holder 50 rotate synchronously due to the resisting torque applied by the spring plates 41 to the positioning portions 32. However, if the driving device is overloaded, i.e., torque applied to the gear 20 and the holder 50 are sufficiently large to overcome the resisting torque, then the spring plates 41 are forced by the positioning portions 32 to deform. Thereby, the elastic member 40 fails to keep up with the pivot shaft 30 during rotation, in other words the pivot shaft 30 rotates relative to the elastic member 40. In this way, the driving device is prevented from being damaged under overloaded conditions. When the pivot shaft 30 rotates relative to the elastic member 40, the noise generated by the pivot shaft 30 and the elastic member 40 are minimized by the positioning member 60 and the silencer 80. When the overloaded condition is minimized, the elastic member 30 recovers to catch up the pivot shaft 30 again.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a transmission device 10 a, according to a second exemplary embodiment, includes a gear 20 a, a pivot shaft 30 a, an elastic member 40 a, a holder 50 a, and a silencer 80 a.

The gear 20 a is configured to couple to a driving device (or a driven device, not shown).

The pivot shaft 30 a includes a lower portion 31 a fixed to a center of the gear 20 a, and an upper portion 32 a concentrically fixed to the lower portion 31 a. The upper portion 32 a includes a cylindrical inner body 33 a and two arc-shaped positioning portions 34 a. In this embodiment, the inner body 33 a and the positioning portions 34 a are integrally formed, and the positioning portions 34 a protrude from a side surface of the inner body 33 a. As a result, the upper portion 32 a is substantially elliptical.

The elastic member 40 a includes two arc-shaped spring plates 41 a. Each spring plate 41 a includes two fixing portions 42 a disposed at two ends thereof. The elastic member 40 a is configured to tightly enfold the upper portion 32 a.

The holder 50 a is configured to couple to a driven device (or a driving device, not shown). The holder 50 a includes a cylindrical body and defines a receiving blind hole 51 a (shown in FIG. 6) in a center of the body. The holder 50 a defines four grooves (not labeled) in the inner surface of the body for receiving the fixing portions 42 a. The holder 50 a also includes male screw threads (not labeled) in the outer surface thereof.

The silencer 80 a is a cylindrical shaped tube and includes female screw threads (not labeled) in the inner surface thereof. The silencer 80 a is configured to sleeve on the holder 50 a for eliminating noise. In this embodiment, the silencer 80 a is made of an acoustic insulating material.

In assembly, the elastic member 40 a tightly enfolds the upper portion 32 a. The holder 50 a is sleeved on the elastic member 40 a, and the fixing portions 42 a are inserted into the grooves in the inner surface of the holder 50 a. There are gaps between the spring plates 41 a and the inner surface of the holder 50 a, so as to allow the spring plates 41 a to deform along the radial direction of the blind pivot hole 51 a. The silencer 80 a is sleeved on the holder 50 a to minimize noise generated by the transmission device 10 a.

Similar to the transmission device 10, if the driving device coupled with the gear 20 a is overloaded, then the spring plates 41 a are forced by the positioning portions 34 a to deform, such that the pivot shaft 30 a rotates relative to the elastic member 40 a and the holder 50 a. Otherwise, the gear 20 a, the pivot shaft 30 a, the elastic member 40 a and the holder 50 a rotate synchronously.

Referring to FIG. 7, a transmission device 10 b, according to a third exemplary embodiment, includes a pivot shaft 30 b, an elastic member 40 b, a holder 50 b, and a C-shaped positioning member 60 b.

The pivot shaft 30 b includes a lower portion 31 b and an upper portion 32 b concentrically fixed to the lower portion 31 b. The lower portion 31 b is a hexagonal column in shape, and is configured to connect to a driven device (or a driving device, not shown). The upper portion 32 b includes a cylindrical inner body 33 b and a number of positioning portions 34 b protruding from a side surface of the inner body 33 b. The positioning portions 34 b are distributed around the side surface of the inner body 32 b at uniform intervals, so as to define a number of positioning grooves 35 b.

The elastic member 40 b is a cylindrical tube in shape. The elastic member 40 b includes a number of spring portions 41 b and fixing portions 42 b. The spring portions 41 b are arc-shaped and protrude inwardly from an inner surface of the elastic member 40 b. The fixing portions 42 b are ribs protruding from an outer surface of the elastic member 40 b.

The holder 50 b is a gear configured to couple to a driving device (or a driven device, not shown). The holder 50 b defines a receiving through hole 51 b in the center thereof for receiving the elastic member 40 b. The holder 50 b further defines a number of fixing grooves 52 b and a circular holding groove 53 b in the inner surface thereof. The fixing grooves 52 b extend along an axial direction of the receiving through hole 51 b. The circular holding groove 53 b is adjacent to one end of the holder 50 b, and a radial direction of the circular holding groove 53 b is perpendicular to the axial direction of the receiving through hole 51 b. The holder 50 b further includes a ring-shaped stopper 54 b disposed at one end of the holder 50 b away from the circular holding groove 53 b. The stopper 54 b is configured to close one end of the fixing grooves 52 b.

Referring to FIG. 8, in assembly, the elastic member 40 b is inserted into the holder 50 b from one end of the holder 50 b away from the stopper 54 b, and is stopped by the stopper 54 b. The fixing portions 42 b are inserted into the fixing grooves 52 b to fix the elastic member 40 b in position. Then, the pivot shaft 30 b is inserted though the elastic member 40 b. The lower portion 3 lb extends out from the holder 50 b, and the positioning portions 34 b are stopped by the stopper 54 b. The spring portions 41 b are inserted into the positioning grooves 35 b correspondingly, such that the elastic member 40 b tightly enfolds the upper portion 32 b. Finally, the positioning member 60 b is received in the holding groove 53 b and contacts the elastic member 40 b and the upper portion 32 b, so as to prevent the elastic member 40 b and the pivot shaft 30 b from detaching from the holder 50 b.

Similarly as described above with respect to the transmission devices 10 and 10 a, if the driving device is overloaded, then the spring portions 41 b are forced by the positioning portions 34 b to deform, such that the pivot shaft 30 b rotates relative to the elastic member 40 b and the holder 50 b. Otherwise, the pivot shaft 30 b, the elastic member 40 b and the holder 50 a rotate synchronously.

While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

1. A transmission device, comprising: a holder defining a receiving hole; a pivot shaft received in the receiving hole; and an elastic member received in the receiving hole, fixed to the holder and tightly enfolding the pivot shaft; wherein when torques applied to the holder or the pivot shaft are larger than a predetermined value, the elastic member is deformed such that the pivot shaft rotates relative to the holder.
 2. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein a part of the elastic member is spaced a distance away from an inner surface of the holder, when the torques applied to the holder or the pivot shaft is smaller than the predetermined value, the pivot shaft rotates synchronously with the holder and the elastic member.
 3. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the pivot shaft comprises a cylindrical inner body and at least one positioning portion protruding from a side surface of the inner body, and the at least one positioning portion is operable to force the elastic member to deform when torques applied to the holder or the pivot shaft are larger than a predetermined value.
 4. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the pivot shaft defines a plurality of positioning grooves, the elastic member comprises a plurality of arc-shaped spring portions, which protrude inwardly from an inner surface of the elastic member, the plurality of spring portions are inserted into the plurality of positioning grooves correspondingly.
 5. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises at least two arc-shaped deformable spring plates, and the spring plates are received in the receiving hole and fixed to the holder to tightly enfold the pivot shaft.
 6. The transmission device of claim 5, wherein the holder defines at least two positioning holes each facing a corresponding spring plate, the transmission device further comprises at least two compressed springs each being received in a corresponding positioning hole and resisting a corresponding spring plate.
 7. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the holder defines at least two fixing grooves, the elastic member comprises at least two fixing portions, the at least two fixing portions are inserted into the at least two fixing grooves correspondingly, such that the elastic member is fixed to the holder.
 8. The transmission device of claim 1, further comprising a silencer, the silencer being sleeved on the holder to minimize noise generated by the pivot shaft and the elastic member.
 9. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the silencer is made of an acoustic insulating material.
 10. The transmission device of claim 1, further comprising a positioning member, the positioning member being fixed to the holder to prevent the elastic member from detaching from the holder.
 11. The transmission device of claim 10, wherein the holder defines a holding groove, and the positioning member is a sheet received in the holding groove.
 12. A transmission device comprising: a holder defining a receiving hole; a deformable elastic member received in the receiving hole; and a pivot shaft received in the receiving hole and contacting the elastic member; wherein the pivot shaft forces the elastic member to deform when torques larger than a predetermined value are applied to the holder or the pivot shaft, such that the pivot shaft rotates relative to the holder.
 13. The transmission device of claim 12, wherein a part of the elastic member is spaced a distance away from an inner surface of the holder, when the torques applied to the holder or the pivot shaft is smaller than the predetermined value, the pivot shaft rotates synchronously with the holder and the elastic member.
 14. The transmission device of claim 12, wherein the pivot shaft comprises a cylindrical inner body and at least one positioning portion protruding from a side surface of the inner body, and the at least one positioning portion is operable to force the elastic member to deform when torques applied to the holder or the pivot shaft are larger than a predetermined value.
 15. The transmission device of claim 12, wherein the pivot shaft defines a plurality of positioning grooves, the elastic member comprises a plurality of arc-shaped spring portions, which protrude inwardly from an inner surface of the elastic member, the plurality of spring portions are inserted into the plurality of positioning grooves correspondingly.
 16. The transmission device of claim 12, wherein the elastic member comprises at least two arc-shaped deformable spring plates, and the spring plates are received in the receiving hole and fixed to the holder to tightly enfold the pivot shaft.
 17. The transmission device of claim 16, wherein the holder defines at least two positioning holes each facing a corresponding spring plate, the transmission device further comprises at least two compressed springs each being received in a corresponding positioning hole and resisting a corresponding spring plate. Page 12 of 14
 18. The transmission device of claim 12, further comprising a silencer, the silencer being sleeved on the holder to minimize noise generated by the pivot shaft and the elastic member.
 19. The transmission device of claim 18, wherein the silencer is made of an acoustic insulating material.
 20. The transmission device of claim 12, further comprising a positioning member, the positioning member being fixed to the holder to prevent the elastic member from detaching from the holder. 